Does the Bible really specify that God existed in abject nothingness until he decided to begin creating? Genesis says that God created "the heavens and the earth." He brought forth new creation, but he could have placed it within whatever environment he exists in. We're talking about a being for whom nothing is impossible. Living in a universe of his own doesn't strike me as far-fetched, when we consider everything else we know about him.
TonusOH
JoinedPosts by TonusOH
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6
1 Kings 8:21 a woman's perspective.
by waton inthis week's bible stories, temple dedication, key text .
prayer to the father; "-- [even] the heavens of the heavens cannot contain you.--" comment from a sister i missed, would have given if permitted: .
given that jehovah was alone, with absolutely nothing else around him, when he made the heavens,(including his firstborn), fashioned the universe, it could have only be inside him, with no outside existing.
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Senior JW member in Australia charged with sex crimes and torture
by Nathan Natas insee: https://7news.com.au/news/crime/senior-jehovahs-witnesses-member-charged-with-rape-torture-and-assault-of-teenage-boys-c-8044666.
"senior jehovah’s witnesses member charged with rape, torture and assault of teenage boys...".
the 61 year-old man "faces 21 counts of rape, 17 counts of sexual assault, 13 counts of procuring sexual acts by false pretence and one count each of incest, torture and common assault.".
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TonusOH
The ABC news report says that "police allege two of the victims tried to report to religious elders and 'were chastised, not believed and ostracised' and accused of being homosexual, before they went to police."
That is clear grounds for a civil suit. This is what happens when you put people in charge who are not fit to handle these cases and convince them that God is acting through them. There needs to be a lawsuit for every single one of these cases where children were being put through the horror of sexual abuse and the people who were supposed to protect them just made it worse, instead.
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Why do JWs love bomb?
by Smiles in💣.
we know what mentally-in jws believe they are doing when they "love one another"... and many of us here formerly participated in that culty love bombing behavior.. why?.
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TonusOH
First impressions/best foot forward. No one in the congregation wants to give a visitor the impression that they are anything but united and loving and a dignified representation of Jehovah's people. Otherwise, God might feel that you let him down.
Once they're in, you can relax a bit, but you still tell yourself that you have not changed your behavior. That would be dishonest, and God wouldn't want that! And once they're in, the new members subconsciously follow everyone else's lead, so they are ready when the next visitor arrives.
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11530
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars
by Newly Enlightened inoriginal reddit post (removed).
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TonusOH
It would almost be worth it to get Geoffrey's side of the story. Evans' telling of it kind of gives things away- after extensive discussions with the elders, it was Evans who lost the most while Geoffrey only got a "slap on the wrist." It always puts a person's story in perspective when the outcome is completely different from what their version would lead you to believe was going to happen. Makes you think that they might not be giving you the whole truth...
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11/2022 WT, not-so-encouraging experiences
by neat blue dog inhere's some 'spiritual gems' from the latest wt, 11/22.
first up, a bethelite who was kicked out, er, "reassigned":.
"she was reassigned to the field after serving at bethel for more than 23 years.
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TonusOH
truth_b_known, there is an additional step. After facing a difficult decision, the JW wonders why they are being made to suffer so much. Then they reaffirm their unquestioned loyalty to the organization. It is classic victim-speak, where they express sadness at how they are being mistreated by their abuser, but they quickly correct themselves and admit that the abuser really does love them and only wants them to be happy.
The WTS wants the membership to have that attitude, and so they express it as an example to all. No matter how bad the organization's actions or words seem, they are to be trusted and obeyed above all other consideration. When they take that approach, the rank-and-file easily fall in line and are even grateful for the abuse.
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11530
It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars
by Newly Enlightened inoriginal reddit post (removed).
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TonusOH
Evans: I was in my early 20s, still a virgin (obviously)
Evans' Right Hand: Now now, dear. No need to be so modest!
It is illuminating to see how he tries to excuse his online dalliances with 'girls.' It wasn't as bad as committing fornication, and it 'allowed him to remain single' into his 20s. One can imagine his mind working through a similar set of justifications as he repeatedly visited hookers behind his wife's back. At the same time, "it's not as if I was doing this" leaves open the possibility that one day he would be doing that latter thing, excusing it by claiming that at least it wasn't as bad as this other thing he wasn't doing... yet.
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Watchtower Basketball Guidelines!
by Atlantis inwatchtower basketball guidelines.
click image to enlarge.
https://postimg.cc/btgxcgcb.
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TonusOH
"Look at this wonderful basketball court that Jehovah has seen fit to bless us with! Now, don't forget to pay us if you want to use it..."
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Who’s gonna mow your grass
by solomon inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xixc6aqrozq.
what most jehovah’s witnesses don’t realize about their version of the new system is who’s gonna mow the grass?.
after the system is destroyed who’s gonna make that nail your pounding with a hammer?
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TonusOH
It does make you wonder how things will work. A perfected humanity could develop clean energy and methods of transmission and light up cities. But how do you get to that point? Who IS emptying the trash cans and mopping the bathroom floors for the researchers in Yahweh's Utopian Society? And is that what they envisioned when they merrily watched billions of people die?
Maybe after a thousand years of burying bodies in advanced stages of decay, menial work seems like, dare I say it... a godsend.
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10 years on and I’m still indoctrinated
by joe134cd inthis experience highlights the level of my indoctrination, after 10 years of been a pomo.
a few months back my gf was hinting to me about what we could do for my birthday.
to be honest i just had no idea, that i even had a birthday.
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TonusOH
I don't think I've ever celebrated my birthday. But when you never did something, you don't really miss it. And since my mom was (and still is) a 100% diehard, the only people we were around was other JWs. So I didn't even see other kids have birthday parties. When you don't know that you are missing something, you never miss it.
But yeah, stuff like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, those are a lot of fun now. I never went trick-or-treating and I am fine with that. I did enjoy getting to give kids candy once or twice, and my only regret about my house is that it's in an area where kids don't come by to trick or treat. The other holidays are really about getting together and having a big family/friends meal, and that is always a treat no matter the occasion.
And I enjoy getting gifts for close friends and receiving whatever oddity or knicknack they get for me. You can keep your once-a-year, watch-someone-else-partake "night of observance" or whatever it is. I'll enjoy myself, instead.
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End of watchtower
by Hellothere inshouldn't gb tell members to abandon organisation?
surely things are pointing at watchtower being part of babylon the great.
in with way is watchtower being bless and been shown god's favour this days?
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TonusOH
Why would an organization that has always promoted false teachings act any different now? It's too good a living at the top for the sort of unambitious, entitled old men enjoying it today to give it up.